Thread: Tea anyone ??!!

Talking of iced tea, I'm rather looking forward to the summer and trying out green tea steeped with ice. I've never done it before and now that I'm well and truly into all this tea business, it's definitely something I want to give a go. While it's still cold, though, I'm happy drinking hot tea...

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Okay where is THE complaint dept. around here anyway. There is no warning about visiting this thread and I feel another disorder coming on. I am sitting here drinking hot tea with these chocolate covered caramel things melting in my mouth and I only had 2 of the little buggers. The tea is just plain bag stuff (hope that doesn't get me in trouble) with some honey in it. I am proceeding with caution in this thread but thinking maybe I should experiment with some other kinds of tea. Second cup no honey, no sugar (gawd). Trying to train my taste buds already ? Is that a good idea. I didn't see a beginners section to this thread and I am wondering.......what would be the first direction for a rookie to go . My favorite tea is called Hunters and has an alcohol after taste to it. I have had a green tea at Starbucks and wasn't that impressed. I like the strong taste of my iced tea as it kills the thirst and cuts the dust out of the throat. I am sure there are other pleasures that include the taste buds when it comes to tea so lets hear it or point me to the list. I have seen some pics in here that I am sure is tea but I never seen it before.

I'll never get my errands done today...........once again..with feeling...here you go.......How to brew a basic every day blokes pot of black tea: This is for all you average guys who don't keep loose tea and don't have access to a fancy shmancey tea shop. Your basic pot of black tea. Well start with the tea. For and every day black I would reccommend bag tea and use common brands from your grocery store. In order(My opinion of quality,,,,good to worst the first FIVE being about equal are) PG TIPS,BARRY'S,LYONS,BEWLEYS,TYPHOO,BIGELOW,TWINNING S,LIPTON......DON'T OVERTHINK THIS OKAY GUYS...IT AIN'T ROCKET SCIENCE....Next the water boiler.....either a stovetop kettle or saucepan or and electric kettle........an TEAPOT where the brewing will take place. just a good decent one of clay,stoneware,metal,glass or porceline is fine. I've used all...again don't get bogged down by rocket science or you'll never get that cuppa tea for heavens sake........ Here's how ya do it ....the rule of thumb is a bag per cup plus one for the pot.Again play around with this as it really is up to your strength preference. For a four cup pot I usually do about 2-3 bags.. always start with fresh cold water from the tap(don't ask why just do it). Swirl a little hot water in your TEAPOT to pre warm it. In your WATERBOILER,bring your water to a nice boil.Place your bags in your TEAPOT and pour in your water and cover the pot. Let your tea brew for approx 2-3 min...some like 4-5 for stronger..this is preference. Any longer though and your tea will start getting tannins which make the tea awful. Take the bags out and DO NOT SQUEEZE THE BAGS ! this will also leach tannins into your tea . to keep the teapot warm..wrap a towel around the pot or buy a tea cozy(a teapot sleeve). Enjoy with sugar,honey,lemon,milk or even 1/2 n 1/2 . ...........Now ...I cannot stress enough to not bog yourself down in science on this...IT"S JUST A POT OF BLACK TEA OKAY. Worry about the nuances and science later and take it for what it is....... a proper pot of tea. I learned how to make tea from everyday dudes from Canada and ,Ireland ,Britain and my stepdad who was from Glasgow. This aint Russian or Asian fine tea..it's yer everyday pot O black that ya have in the morning for breakfast or after a heard days toiling or relaxing late in the evening. Or if your like me,for your lifes blood so it would seem sometimes. NOTE" if you overbrew you will see a film on top of your tea surface.That's the tannins and the more you see,the more you got. And also...it's not always about cute little cucumber sandwiches at the ladies social. Anything goes good with tea just about. Breakfast,second breakfast,brunch,elevensies,lunch,dinner,supper,sn acktime all the time ! Allright ? Again ...don't get out yer thermometers or water testing kits for this.....for the love of all that is holy and human..........Right then....I'm gonna get me a cuppa tea now ! Other note: if making tea in a cup...1 bag per cup and it's 1-2 mins for brewing. I rarely do this as it's better to make a pot than waste a bag for just a cup. Sometimes I will take the leftover tea and throw some sugar in it and dilute it a little with cold water and slap it in the fridge for iced tea. It works and I hate wastin good tea

P.S. Don't grind your tea anymore...you are not doing anything but wrecking the true tea flavor ,but if you must...to each his own. Good luck

Iced tea discoveries. Use cold water over the tea leaves and leave overnight to steep. Making it the standard way with hot water will steep it quicker, but if cooled too quickly, will leave the tea tasting bitter.

Sweeteners like suger and honey (if you use that sort of thing) should be dissolved with just enough hot water to do the job, and added to the steeping tea.

Iced tea tastes better if it is weaker than how you would have the same tea hot. Brewing iced tea using cold water rather than hot, will not make the tea too strong anyway. More cold water can be added if necessary.

Never forget to strain the tea leaves out while pouring the tea into it's fridge container. Or remove the teabags if you make it that way. These things tend to get caught in the teeth and are not a very photogenic look while munching on cucumber sandwichs on the back lawn.

Lemon and lime juices add a little something special to iced tea. Other juices can also be added for a variety. Add to taste.

Iced tea home made should not be stored too long in the fridge as it tastes better if you use it within 24 hours of chilling.

There are probably many more things I've yet to learn, but those are a few of my recent epiphanies.


Mick

Still yet one more thing....Your water does not have to be at a raging boil.You want boiling water..not boiled water. Tea likes water that is oxygenated not dead.

I'm a little confused on steeping times and different teas. Also, I searched google, but I seem to come up with various views on this. Should the steeping time be longer for each subsequent infusion?

Generally, for teas that can be infused several times, each subsequent infusion is longer.

If you are drinking general black tea of european taste . refer to directions on post # 1932 . If you are drinking greens and Oolongs, or Asians in general talk to Bela.

Originally Posted by NoseWarmer

...I have to ask... What is Billy Tea... I've been hoping to figure it out on my own but... Is it the brand or the brew method?

Billy Tea

Hello Bela!!

I decided I need, well, want; a gaiwan. I was looking at this one on dragon tea house, it's a celadon, not too big, not too small. I really like the one you posted a while back, with the cracked glazing.